12,000 youth aged between 13 and 15 from the Ile-de-France congregated at Jambville (Yvelines) from 25 to 28 May for the annual Catholic youth rally called “Frat”, abbreviation for “Fraternel”. The theme chosen for this year’s rally was “I have called you friends”. The teenagers were led by Bishop Gérard Dacourt of Nanterre, who exhorted them to “know Christ and share this experience with each other”. With the help of some 2,000 animators, the teenagers participated in five workgroups, moments of celebration and various recreational activities. Remaining in the youth field, the centenary of the scouting movement in France was celebrated at Chambord during the same days: 20,000 scouts aged between 7 and 25 took part; one of the high points of the event was the celebration presided over by Bishop Benoît Rivière of Autun, delegate of the Bishops’ Conference for youth pastoral care.
